Tool Magazine Rotation Control for Interference Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tool replacement apparatuses limit the length and shape of tools that can be housed in a tool magazine to prevent interference during rotation, which restricts the processing capabilities of machine tools.
Innovation Solution
A tool replacement apparatus with a control unit that sets and manages a rotatable range for the tool magazine, determining whether a designated rotation angle is within this range and temporarily stopping operations if it is not, thereby preventing interference without restricting tool length or shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the tool magazine rotates through the full 360 degrees to index any tool position, then all tool positions can be accessed, but tools may interfere with other machine components during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit determines the rotatable range in advance based on tool length and machine component positions, and checks whether the designated rotation angle falls within this range before executing the tool magazine rotation. This preliminary verification prevents interference by stopping the rotation operation before it would cause collision.
2Reliability
If the rotatable range of the tool magazine is limited to prevent tool interference, then tool safety is improved, but the ability to access all tool positions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates the rotatable range beforehand based on the housed tool's length and the positions of machine components, then verifies whether the designated rotation angle is within this safe range before executing the rotation. This ensures that tool magazine rotation never causes interference while still allowing access to all necessary tool positions within the determined safe range.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool replacement apparatus according to the present invention includes: a turning tool magazine capable of attaching or removing a tool to/from a spindle of a machine tool; a tool replacement control unit which controls operations of turning the tool magazine and attaching or removing a tool to/from a spindle; and a setting unit which sets a rotatable range of the tool magazine. The tool replacement control unit includes: a determining unit which determines whether or not a designated rotation angle in an instruction for turning the tool magazine is within the rotatable range set by the setting unit; and a unit which stops an operation of replacing a tool when the determining unit determines that a designated rotation angle is out of a rotatable range.